Cup lid with integrated stirrer

ABSTRACT

A cup lid stirrer combination the unitary component facilitates ordering, manufacturing, shipping, storing, displaying, and using a stirrer for a mixed beverage. The stirrer is integrally formed with a lid for a beverage cup in one easy to use combination device for someone wanting to stir, for example a sweetener and or a creamer in their coffee and then secure their lid on their cup.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/677,983, filed May 30, 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lids for beverage cups, and more particularly to lids for beverage cups in which one or more ingredients are stirred into a liquid beverage.

Plastic stirring straws are often not recyclable and wood stirring sticks are expensive and take lots of energy to make and uses wood a renewable resource that can be better served for other uses. The stirring straws or sticks must be often purchased separately, shipped separately, take up additional storage space, and displayed separately and thusly replaced separately when they run out.

In addition, making the independent plastic straw or wood stirring stick takes additional manufacturing and energy to produce. Also used precious renewable wood making it environmentally unfriendly.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved beverage stirring apparatus for stirred beverages that simplifies ordering, manufacturing, shipping, storing, displaying, and using are all combined in one easy to use combination device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a cup lid with an integrally formed stirrer is disclosed. The invention includes a lid having an annular rim for engagement with a lip of a cup. A stirrer protrudes from an interior surface of the lid. The stirrer has a length that is dimensioned to extend into a liquid contained an interior volume of the cup.

In some embodiments, an orifice is defined in a top surface of the lid proximal to the annular rim to permit sipping of the contents of the cup to which the lid is attached.

The stirrer may be formed by a sidewall defining a substantially hollow interior having an aperture opening to the top surface of the lid. The stirrer may protrude from an axial centerline of the lid. Alternatively, the stirrer may protrude from a position offset from an axial centerline of the lid.

In some embodiments, the sidewall defines a frusto-conical surface or any similar stackable/nest able shape.

In other aspects of the invention, a cup lid is disclosed. The invention includes a lid having an annular rim for engagement with a lip of a cup, with the lid having a top surface and a bottom surface defined within a boundary of the annular rim. A stirrer having a cavity therein is defined by at least one sidewall protruding from the bottom surface of the lid and an aperture at a top end of the cavity opening to the top surface of the lid. The stirrer has a length configured to extend into a liquid contained in an interior volume of the cup.

In some embodiments, an orifice is defined in a top surface of the lid proximal to the annular rim. The stirrer may protrude from an axial centerline of the lid. Alternatively, the stirrer protrudes from a position offset from an axial centerline of the lid.

In other embodiments, the sidewall defines a frusto-conical surface or any similar stackable/nest able shape.

In yet other embodiments, the interior cavity of the stirrer is configured to receive a second stirrer of a second lid in at least a partially nested configuration.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the invention, illustrating the use of stirrer 12;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the invention, taken illustrating the nesting of multiple lids; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention, shown in a stacked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides a beverage cup lid with an integrated stirrer stick for mixing a beverage carried by the cup.

As stated above, plastic stirring straws, or swizzle sticks, are often not recyclable. Wood stirring sticks are expensive, take lots of energy to produce, and use wood, a renewable resource that can be better served for other uses. The present invention problem by eliminating the need for an additional stirring device, whether it be a plastic straw or wood stirring stick. The cup lid stirrer is combined and is more environmentally friendly. By combining the two, cup and stirrer, the need for procuring, stocking, and dispensing an independent stirring device is eliminated. Prior to the present invention, users had to use a stirring straw or stick for 2-5 seconds to stir their beverage, after which time it is thrown away and possibly never recycled. Frequently, they are not disposed of properly, which can contribute to their becoming a litter nuisance.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1-7 a cup lid with integrated stirring stick is shown. The lid 10 may be any conventional lid for a disposable, or a reusable cup. The lid 10 has an annular rim 11 for engagement with a lip 13 of the cup 16. A sipping hole 14, or orifice, is defined in a top surface of the lid 10 proximal to the annular rim 11. An indentation 15 may be provided in the top surface of the lid 10 for the user's lips to be received in when sipping a beverage contained within the cup 16. A vent hole 19 may also be provided in a top surface of the lid 10 at an opposed side from the vent sipping hole 14. A stirrer 12 protrudes from an interior surface of the lid 10 and has a length to extend near the bottom of the cup 16 to which it is applied.

In preferred embodiments the lid 10 is formed in an extruded or injection mold process. The stirrer 12 may be formed with a sidewall and a substantially hollow interior so that the lids 10 and integrally formed stirrers 12 may be conveniently stacked in a nested arrangement for shipment, storage, and presentation to the user. A distal end of the stirrer 12 is preferably closed to contain the beverage within the cup 16. The injection mold is a one-time process. Once the plastic has been injected and cooled the product is ready for use.

While the drawings illustrate the stirrer 12 formed in a central portion of the lid 10, the actual stirring portion 12 can be integrated into the cup lid 10 at any location, as long as it is long enough and extends into the cup 10 portion that holds the liquid beverage. The length of the stirring device 12 will vary according to lid size and cup size. The stirring portion 12 is formed with a cylindrical conical shape with a taper (for nesting with other lids 10). An aperture 17 is defined in a top end of the stirrer 12. The conical shape provides rigidity for the stirrer 12 as well. Other shapes may be provided depending on manufacturers' needs.

In use, once given a cup 16 of liquid beverage, the user can then pour their sweetener and/or creamer and simply stir the contents with the lid 10 provided stirrer 12. Once done stirring, they would apply the lid 10 to safely secure the liquid in the cup 16. As will be appreciated, the lid 10 with integrated stirring stick 12, may be utilized as a disposable or reusable device that may be applied to a temporary disposable cup 16 or as permanent lid 10 on a reusable cup 16.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cup lid with integrally formed stirrer, comprising a lid having an annular rim for engagement with a lip of a cup; and a stirrer protruding from an interior surface of the lid, the stirrer having a length dimensioned to extend into a liquid contained an interior volume of a cup.
 2. The cup lid of claim 1, further comprising: an orifice defined in a top surface of the lid proximal to the annular rim.
 3. The cup lid of claim 2, the stirrer further comprising: a sidewall defining a substantially hollow interior having an opening to the top surface of the lid.
 4. The cup lid of claim 3, wherein the stirrer protrudes from an axial centerline of the lid.
 5. The cup lid of claim 3, wherein the stirrer protrudes from a position offset from an axial centerline of the lid.
 6. The cup lid of claim 3, wherein the sidewall defines a frusto-conical surface.
 7. A cup lid, comprising: a lid having an annular rim for engagement with a lip of a cup, a top surface and a bottom surface defined within a boundary of the annular rim; and a stirrer having a cavity therein defined by at least one sidewall protruding from the bottom surface of the lid and an opening at a top end of the cavity opening to the top surface of the lid.
 8. The cup lid of claim 7, the stirrer having a length configured to extend into a liquid contained in an interior volume of the cup.
 9. The cup lid of claim 7, further comprising: an orifice defined in a top surface of the lid proximal to the annular rim.
 10. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein the stirrer protrudes from an axial centerline of the lid.
 11. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein the stirrer protrudes from a position offset from an axial centerline of the lid.
 12. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein the sidewall defines a frusto-conical surface.
 13. The cup lid of claim 7, wherein the interior cavity of the stirrer is configured to receive a second stirrer of a second lid in at least a partially nested configuration. 